Sunday 4 May 2014

Cake Club and Clam Shells

This week started with the clandestine Cake Club. The theme was Easter so there was an array of chocolate based cakes, Easter chicks and even a bunny!


This was the cake made by my sister-in-law - it was covered in coconut to give a fluffy appearance. I went with a carrot cake - Easter bunnies eat carrots, don't they? I'm so glad I joined this club, it's a fun evening of eating cake and drinking tea whilst chatting to friends old and new.



For the record, this particular cake was made by the 11 year old daughter of a friend and was delecious!

On the sewing front, I finished the Clam Shell cushion that I've been making following the instructions in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine.


Rather than make my own cushion cover, I used a cushion that I bought in a supermarket. How could I not? The cushion, with pad, was just £3! I couldn't have bought a new cushion pad for that. And it saved me from making my own cushion cover. This sewing on this cushion is almost a plotted history of my technical improvements. The clam shells at the top are sewn on neatly and are more than acceptable. However, those  from about half way down are......very nearly perfect! I learned so much from watching videos about sewing the binding to quilts, and it has really rubbed off onto all of my sewing projects. One thing I have learned since finishing this project (which is a shame because it is a tip I could really have benefited from) is how to iron fabric shapes around templates, using spray starch  to fix the curves. This was again learned via a video tutorial and I stumbled across it by accident. If you would like to seek it out, it was How To prepare Appliqué on the Fat Quarter Shop channel.

I shall be linking up with Handmade Monday - if you've not yet visited, join me there to read some really inspiring blogs.

Love Natalie






13 comments:

  1. How ever can you survive all that cake? It all looks so yummy. The cushion is just fine and dandy. I find You tube is wonderful for tips on crafting. The Missouri Quilt Co has some fun and quick patchwork vids on there. x

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  2. Yum, a cake club my sort of thing. All those cakes to choose from another big yum! Well done on the clam cushion and thanks for the link will have to have a nosy at that.

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  3. Those cakes look amazing. Wish we had a cake club!

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  4. The clam cushion is absolutely gorgeous. Has it taken you ages to collect all the fabric scraps - you've used a lovely combination! x

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  5. I do love the clam cushion. It is so bright and cheery. And a cake club. What a brilliant idea.

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  6. I think your cake club idea is fab - I may have to start one!! I saw the clam cushion in the mag so its nice to see it done - looks hard going though all that hand sewing!

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  7. The rabbit cake looks wonderful. Great pic of the table with everyone with their cakes. I love your clam cushion it's gorgeous.
    Ali xx

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  8. Well done with the clam cushion, it looks like a tricky project and you've completed it beautifully. I looove the cakes too, especially the bunny, i'm sure they were all delicious! :)

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  9. Great cushion. I'm in the clandestine cake club down here in South Wales. I love being a member. It's a new meeting but so much fun
    Gina xx

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  10. What a gorgeous cushion - and well done on getting a great bargain with the cushion pad.

    I've heard about the Clandestine Cake Club. Shame there isn't a club near me. I'm hungry now !!! xx

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  11. It's a beautiful cushion Natalie, and the cake club sounds hazardous to the waist line but perfect for the soul!

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  12. I love the look of that bunny cake. Seems a shame to have to eat him.

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  13. Ha I have that cushion on my to-do list! Yours looks fantastic, really beautiful

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